Circuit controller



`Ian.

Filed July l2. 1950 N. GLICKMAN ET AL CIRCUIT CONTROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheeil l Jan. 25, 1955 M, N GLlcKMAN ETAL 2,700,710

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12. 1950 FIG? United States Patent O 2,700,710 CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Mannes N. Glickman and Michael Klebanoff, Nutley, N. J.

Application July 12, 1950, Serial No. 173,332 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-88) This invention relates to circuit controllers. More particularly, the invention concerns devices for rapidly opening and closing one or more electrical circuits in a repetitive manner.

A number of devices are in use as switch means for a lamp circuit or the like, where the circuit is regularly opened and closed. Such devices necessarily include switch contacts which are subjected to a substantial number of make and break actions during the life of the device. Unless the break action occurs very rapidly, arcing and other undesirable phenomena take place so as to shorten the useful life of the contacts and thus curtail the normal life of the device as a whole.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide improved circuit controllers including switch contacts, wherein the switch actuating elements of the controller are arranged in a manner to insure a rapid break at the switch contacts during the operation of the device, so as to materially decrease arcing and other actions deleterious to the contacts.

Another object of this invention is to provide devices of the character described which include improved means for accurately controlling the successive time intervals during which the circuit is opened and closed.

A further object of this invention is to provide circuit controlling means which includes an electromagnet in circuit with a thermoresponsive member and a switch, the electromagnet being adapted to be energized upon the passage of a current through the circuit while the thermoresponsive member is heated by the current, the heated thermoresponsive member being adapted to move despite the energized electromagnet, to initiate the opening of the switch, the opening of the switch being accelerated by the deenergization of the electromagnet.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide circuit controllers which comprise an electromagnet and a thermoresponsive member in circuit therewith, together with normally engaging switch contacts on the armature of the electromagnet and the thermoresponsive member, the member and armature being arranged relative to each other for independent movement in a manner whereby in response to a current passing through the circuit, the separation of the switch contacts is initiated by the movement of the thermoresponsive member and is rapidly accelerated by the movement of the armature of the deenergized electromagnet.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide circuit controllers including an electromagnet and a thermoresponsive member, the armature of the electromagnet and the thermoresponsive member being adapted to be moved from free to stressed positions whereby switch contacts carried by the armature and member are successively firmly engaged and rapidly separated.

Still another object of this invention is to provide devices of the character described, which comprise a minimum number of parts, which may be quickly and economically assembled, which is rugged and adapted to withstand hard usage, which is readily adapted to various types of circuits, which operates at a high degree of efficiency and has an extended useful life.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangement of parts and their electrical interconnection, which will be exemplified in the devices hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawings, vention:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a circuit the invention,

Figs. 2 and thereof;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a typical circuit including the circuit controller;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of a circuit controller elinbodfying the invention and illustrating a modified form t ereo Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the circuit connections for a plurality of circuits operated by a circuit controller embodying the invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the circuit connections of a pair of circuits which are alternately ilashed by a circuit controller embodying the invention;

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the circuit connections for a pair of circuits and illustrating the use of a modified form of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram similar to that of Fig. 8 and forming a modification thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly illustrating embodiments of the incontroller embodying with parts in section; 3 are detailed views showing the operation ing 11, which may be formed of metal or other suitable material. A base 12 which may be of electrical insulating material, is tted into one end of the housing 11 and retained therein by means not shown.

Disposed within the housing 11 and mounted on the base 12, is an electromagnet 13. The magnet 13 comprises a core 14 having a pair of spaced, laterally extending arms 15, 16. A coil of wire 17 is wound on the core. The core is suitably positioned within the housing 11 and may be fixed to the base 12 by suitable means. One end of coil 17 is electrically connected to the core as at 18, while the other end of the coil is connected to a terminal 20 mounted on the base 12.

The magnet 13 further comprises an armature 21 of magnetic material, which is secured at one end to a resilient member 22. The member 22 is suitably mounted on core arm 15 in electrically connected relation thereto by a screw 22a screwed into a threaded opening in the end of said arm. The member 22 is bent in, a direction to normally locate the free end of armature 21 in spaced relation to core arm 16, as shown in Fig. l. The spacing between the free end of armature 21 and the core arm 16 may be regulated for the purpose hereinafter described, by means of a stop screw 24 adjustably mounted on a bracket 24a which is suitably positioned within housing 11.

A thermoresponsive member 25 is clamped to core arm 15 by screw 22a and is maintained in electrically insulated relationship thereto and to member 22 by means of insulating discs 26 disposed on either side of member 25 and an oversize opening in the lower portion of member 25 through which screw 22a passes in non-contacting relation to member 25.

Switch means for connecting member with armature 21, is provided in the form engaging contacts 27, 28, which are fixed to member 25 and armature 21 respectively. Thermoresponsive member 25, which may take the form of '.1 bimetal strip, is electrically connected to a terminal 29 mounted on base 12, by means of a conductor 29a.

The device shown in Fig. l, may be used to control the operation of an electrical circuit in accordance with the schematic diagram shown 25 in series of normally battery B, through a switch S, the tery being grounded.

Upon closing switch S, current will ow through terminal 29, conductor 29a, member 25, switch contacts causing the armature 21 to be moved from to an attracted, stressed position, limited byl core arm 16. The contacts 27, 28 being normally engaged, load L is energized as soon as switch S is closed.

As armature 21 moves toward core arm 16, the engaged contacts 27, 28, cause member 25 to move from its normal position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, to a new position shown in full lines, wherein the member is stressed. Accordingly, contacts 27, 2S are firmly locked in engagement while load L is energized. As current passes through member 25, the same is heated until a point is reached wherein the member deforms and its free portion moves toward core 14. Such movement relieves the stress in the member and upon continued heating, movement is continued in the same direction until the contact 27 starts to separate from contact 28, as shown in Fig. 3.

As soon as the switch contacts 27, 2S, begin to separate, the circuit to coil 17 is opened and the coil is deenergized. The collapse of the magnetic field will release the armature 21 and will accelerate the separation of the switch contacts 27, 2S, due to the very rapid movement of the armature 21 from its stressed position to its free position. Accordingly, the circuit will be broken very rapidly to deenergize load L and to reduce arcing at switch contacts 27, 28. A member 21a of nonmagnetic material on the armature portion facing core arm 16 acts to prevent the armature from sticking to the core arm after collapse of the magnetic field.

When the thermoresponsive member 25 cools sufficiently, the same will reassume its normal, unheated position wherein the switch contacts 27, 28 will become reengaged to close the circuit and reenergize load L, thus causing the cycle to be repeated' until switch S is opened.

The normal, free position of armature 21 is determined by the adjusted position of stop 24, thus determining the normal, unheated position of the member 25 through the engaging switch contacts 27, 28. It will be apparent that the distance between the unheated, free position of member 25 and the heated position thereof, may be regulated by means of stop 24 which adjusts the position of armature 21. Such adjustment in turn, together with the degree of bias of member 25, determines the time interval necessary to effect sufficient heating of member 25 to cause the same to move from its unheated position to its switch contact separating position.

It will be apparent that the armature 21, through its tendency to move from a stressed position to its normal, free position, will supplement the collapse of the magnetic field, to accelerate the separation of switch contacts 27, 28, thus insuring a rapid break which substantially eliminates arcing or the like at the contacts.

The device is self protecting and there is no danger of burnout in the event of a short circuit. When a short circuit occurs, the cycle described continues, but the duration of the make portion of the cycle is reduced substantially to zero time.

The circuit controller above described, lends itself to compensation for ambient temperature effect on the thermo-responsive member 25. The device may be modied as shown in Fig. 5, wherein the structure lil' is essentially similar to that shown in Fig. l, except that the switch contact 23a is mounted on a second bimetal member 25a, which in turn is xed to the armature 21. Bimetal member 25a has substantially the same temperature deflection characteristics as member 25, but also has a substantially lower specific resistance than member 25. Accordingly, member 25a is virtually non-responsive to the effects of the current owing through armature 21, yet it deforms in the same direction and in the same manner as member 25, in response to ambient temperature changes.

The circuit controller 10a, which is similar to device 10, except as hereinafter described, may be used to control dual circuits, as indicated in Fig. 6. Here, the armature 21 is mounted on core arm 15, in insulated relation thereto. The armature 21 is connected to a terminal 30 which may be mounted on base 12. Also, armature 21 and core arm 16 are provided with switch contacts 31, 32, respectively, in opposed relation. In addition, coil 17 is insulated from core 14 and has one end thereof connected to terminal 2t? and the` other end connected to thermoresponsive member 25.. The core 14 is electrically connected to a' terminal 33 which may be mounted on base 12.

The circuit controller 10a may be used to control a pai-r of circuits, one of which may take the form of a pair of interconnected lamps 34, each lamp being grounded, together with a second pair of similarly interconnected and grounded lamps 35; the two pairs of lamps being connected to a single pole, double throw switch having a movable blade 36 and a pair of xed contacts 37, 38. The blade 36 is connected to terminal 20, contact 37 is connected to interconnected lamps 34 and contact 38 is connected to interconnected lamps 35.

The other circuit, which may be of an auxiliary nature, comprises a lamp 39 grounded on one side and connected to the terminal 33 on the other side. Energy for the two circuits is provided by battery B which is grounded on one side and connected on the other side to terminal 30. Lamps 34 may represent the front and rear lamps on one side of a vehicle, while lamps 35 represent the front and rear lamps on the other side of the same vehicle. Lamp 39 may be the pilot light within the vehicle.

When switch blade 36 is moved to engage contact 37 or contact 38, current from battery B flows through terminal 30, armature 21, switch contacts 28, 27, member 25, coil 17, terminal 20 to the appropriate pair of lamps 34, 35, lighting the same. Simultaneously, armature 21 is pulled over to its attracted position, causing switch contacts 31, 32 to become engaged, thus closing the auxiliary circuit through core 14, terminal 33 and lighting pilot light 39.

rlhe circuit to the lamps 34 or 35 is broken when member 25 is heated sufficiently to cause the same to move and initiate the separation of switch contacts 27, 28, the separation being accelerated by the movement of the armature 21 to its normal, free position, as previously described. As the armature moves toward its normal position, contacts 31, 32 are separated, thus opening the auxiliary circuit including the lamp 39. Here again, the cycle will be repeated, as the member 25 cools, thus ashing lamps 34 or 35, as well as pilot lamp 39.

The failure of both lamps in sets 34, or 35, will open the circuit to coil 17, the failure being indicated by a lack of illumination in pilot lamp 39. The failure of a single lamp in sets 34 or 35, will reduce the current ow to coil 17 causing a decrease in the magnetic attraction of the armature, as opposed by the adjusted bias of member 22, so as to prevent closing of contacts 31, 32, thereby signalling the lamp failure by a lack of illumination in pilot lamp 39.

The circuit controller embodying the invention, may also be used to control a circuit including a pair of loads, such as lamps, which are alternately and repeatedly energized. Thus, as shown in Fig. 7, the controller 10b, is similar to device 10a except that armature 21 is provided with an insulating button 40 on the side opposite core arm 16, and with a switch contact 41 on the opposite side thereof. A switch contact 42 is xed on stop 24 for engagement by contact 41. Contact 42 is electrically connected to core 14 through bracket 24a and conductor 43. Coil 17, member 25 and armature 21 are disposed in electrically insulated relation to core 14, as previously described.

A lamp 44 grounded on one side, is connected on the other side to terminal 20. Another lamp 45 grounded on one side, is connected on the other side to terminal 33. Energy for the loads is supplied by a battery B grounded on one side and connected on the other` side to terminal 30 through a switch 46. When switch 46 is closed, current from battery B flows through terminal 30, armature 21, contacts 28, 27, member 25, coil 17, terminal 20 to energize lamp 44. Armature 21 is simultaneously pulled over to its stressed position. When member 25 is heated to a predetermined point, it moves to initiate separation of contacts 27, 2S causing collapse of the magnetic field Iand accelerating the separation of the contacts due to the rapid movement of armature 21 to its normal, unstressed position.

Accordingly, the circuit including lamp 44 is opened, causing the lamp to go out. At the same time, with armature 21 in its normal, unstressed position, contacts 41, 42 become engaged, allowing current from battery B to ow through terminal 3G, armature 21, contacts 41, 42, conductor 43, core 14, terminal 33 to energize lamp 45. Lamp 45 remains energized until member 25 cools sufficiently to allow the same to move to reengage contacts 27, 23, which in turn energizes magnet 13 and opens the circuit to lamp 45 due to attraction of the armature 21 and 8,5 consequent separation of contacts 41, 42. This action is repeated as long as switch 46 remains closed and alternately energizes the lamps 44, 45.

The circuit controllers above described, provide audible means for indicating signs of operation through the clicking sound caused by the armature alternately striking core arm 16 and stop 24 during the cyclic operation of the device.

The invent-ion may be further embodied in a circuit controller c, shown in Fig. 8, wherein one of the main switch c-ontacts may be substantially tixed in relation to the other, movable switch Contact. Thus, the core 14 has mounted on arm 15, a contact carrying member 50 in insulated relation thereto and bearing a switch contact 51. The armature 21 is resiliently mounted on arm 15, in insulated relation thereto and has fixed on one side thereof a bimetal member 52. The bimetal member 52 carries on its free end a switch contact 53 which normally engages switch contact 51. A pair of opposed switch contacts 31, 32 are mounted on the armature 21 and core arm 16, respectively.

Coil 17 is wound on core 14 in insulated relation thereto with one end thereof connected to terminal 20 and the other end electrically connected to member 50. Armature 21 is connected to terminal 30 and core 14 is electrically connected to terminal 33.

An electrical load L1, grounded on one side, is connected on the other side to terminal 20. Another electrical load L2, grounded on one side, is connected on the other side to terminal 33. Energy for the loads is supplied by a battery B grounded on one side and connected on the other side to terminal 30 through a switch S.

It is apparent that upon closing switch S, current will flow from battery B through terminal 30, armature 21, bimetal member 52, switch contacts 51, 53, member 50, coil 17, terminal 20 to energize load L1. Simultaneously, as magnet 13 is energized, armature 21 is moved to its attracted and stressed position, thus closing the circuit to load L2 through terminal 30, armature 21, switch contacts 31, 32, core 14, terminal 33 to energize load Lz.

The bimetal member 52, is adapted, upon heating, to be deformed and to move its free end in a direction towards the armature 21. Such movement initiates the separation between switch contacts 51, 53 t-o deenergize the magnet 13. As the magnetic eld collapses, armature 21 moves rapidly from its stressed position to its normal free position, thus accelerating the separation of the switch contacts 51, 53 and providing a rapid break at the contacts. As soon as contacts 31, 32 become separated due to movement of the armature 21, load L2 as well as load L1 is deenergized.

The loads L1, L2 remain deenergized until bimetal member 52 cools to a point where the same moves toward member 50, causing switch contacts 51, 53 to become reengaged and closing the circuits to the loads, as previously described. The cycle is repeated until switch S is opened. It is understood that loads L1, L2, may take any desired form, as for example, vehicle lights in the former case and a pilot light in the latter case.

tIf desired, correction for ambient temperature effects may be attained in controller 10c by using a bimetal member similar to member 25a described in connection with Fig. 5, as the contact carrying member for switch contact 51. With the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, the device is protected agalnst short circuits occurring in load circuit L1.

IIn order to protect against short circuits in either of the load circuits, the connections to the controller are modified, as shown in Fig. 9. Here, one end of 17 is connected to terminal 20, as previously described, while the other end is connected to the armature 21. The member 50 is connected to terminal 30. The remaining connections are the same as in Fig. 8.

`If desired, the -bimetal member 52 may be mounted on armature 21, in insulated relation thereto. In such case, the connections are made directly to member 52 rather than to armature 21. This arrangement eliminates the circuit for load L2 and accordingly, switch contacts 3l, 32 and terminal 33 become unnecessary.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a circuit controller in which the several objects of this invention yare achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

-As various possible embodiments might be made of the above described invention, `and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it is understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. A circuit controller comprising an electromagnet including a core, an insulated coil on said core and a resiliently mounted armature having a portion thereof biased to a normally free position, a thermoresponsive member, a pair of load terminals and a supply terminal, said coil being directly connected on one side with said thermoresponsive member and on the other side with one of said load terminals, switch means for one circuit including a contact on said armature and a contact on said thermoresponsive member normally engaging said rst mentioned contact, second switch means for yanother circuit inculding a contact on said armature and a contact on said core, said core being connected to the other load terminal and said armature being connected to said supply terminal.

2. A circuit controller comprising an electromagnet including -a core, an insulated coil on said core and an armature, a thermoresponsive member, switch means for a circuit including a contact on said thermoresponsive member and a `contact on said armature for engaging said first mentioned contact, second switch means for another circuit including a contact on said armature and a fixed contact engageable by the contact on said armature, said iirst mentioned switch means being connected in series with `said thermoresponsive member and said coil, said liirst mentioned switch means being in normally closed position while said second mentioned switch means is in normally open position, 'said coil being adapted to be energized with a current whereby said armature is moved to a position causing said lsecond mentioned switch means to be closed and to retain said first mentioned switch means in closed position, said thermoresponsive member being adapted in response to passage of said current therethrough, to move in a direction to open said first switch means and to deenergize said coil whereby said armature moves in a direction to open said second switch means, said thermoresponsive member being further adapted to thereafter move to its original position where- `by to close said tirst switch means and to cause the closing of said second switch means.

3. A circuit controller comprising an electromagnet including a core having a pair of laterally spaced arms, an insulated winding on said core, an armature secured at one end thereof to one of said core arms with the free end thereof in normally spaced relation to the other core arm, a thermoresponsive member thereto, a pair of opposed contacts respectively mounted on said thermoresponsive member and armature, said contacts being in normally engaged rel-ation, a second pair of contacts respectively mounted on said armature and the second mentioned core arm, said second pair of contacts being in normally spaced relation, a pair of load terminals and a supply terminal, a circuit comprising one of said load terminals, said winding, said thermoresponsive member, said engaged contacts, said armature, and said supply terminal in series, a second circuit comprising the other load terminal, said core, the second pair of contacts, said armature and said supply terminal in series, whereby said second pair of contacts will become engaged upon energization of said winding while maintaining said first pair of contacts in locked engagement and said thermoresponsive member being movable in a direction to initiate the separation of said first pair of cont-acts in response to the passage of said energizing current therethrough.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,986,445 Parsons et al. Jan. l, 1935 2,177,832 Knos Oct. 31, 1939 2,262,344 `Shaw Nov. 11, 1941 2,338,731 Morse Jan. 11, 1944 2,440,265 Gross Apr. 27, 1948 2,451,618 Gross Oct. 19, 1948 2,453,726 Prouty etal Nov. 16, 1948 

